Please heat this eventually

OMAR RODRIGUEZ-LOPEZ & DAMO SUZUKI - PLEASE HEAT THIS EVENTUALLY

Omar Rodriguez-Lopez

Heavy Prog

This is an epic collaboration between two important figure in the progressive rock scene,from two different decades.Damo Suzuki best known as the one of the vocalists from Can who appeared on perhaps their best known albums during the 1970's (Future Days,Ege Bamyasi & Tago Mago) & Omar Rodriguez Lopez best known as the guitarist and band leader of The Mars Volta.

First of all though it's titled as a collaboration album,it's pretty clear Damo had no control over the quality of music as the musicians are from previous Omar solo recordings.But that being said this particular line-up is my personal favourite Omar Rodriguez Lopez group and certainly the most jazz inspired.Now the scene has been set it's easier to begin to understand the album and it's direction.Please Heat Eventually is one long song which has been split into two separate tracks (Each one spanning a side of the record)and within each separate track three parts or divisions of the song.The result one twenty five minute song.It's clear Omar & Damo shares the same ambitions of the experimental and improvisational sides of music which is clearly heard on this recording..The song itself is wonderful combination and overall musical acid trip fans would expect from the two.Essentially it's one long jam with Damo improvising lyrics "sung in no one particular language" over psychedelic themes provided by Omars group featuring lengthy guitar solos,fusion rhythms and powerful performances from Adrián Terrazas-González on saxophone & bass Clarinet. But to confuse us Omar & Damo fans even more.The album was recorded into sections some live and some studio this can be quite noticeable as most of the musical themes are evolved and explored some can end abruptly,which is very possibly the merging of the two different recording settings.But to say that as a downfall of the album is really splitting hairs.

The true downfall and the unfortunate result of my low ratings is mainly me abiding by the prog archives rating guide.As this is only released as vinyl and only contains one song.I would have to put this amongst the collectors/fans which only has the rating of two stars.But to redeem myself and the album I would recommend the 2 disc Japanese edition of Omar Rodriguez Lopez's Se Dice Bisonte, No Bùfalo which not only contains the fantastic original album with an instrumental version of this song.It also contains Please Heat Eventually in full on the bonus disc.

Great album,unfortunate format.

Some extremely short,rare and bad video quality footage of the two performing.

Jaco Pastorius - Live In Italy

LIVE IN ITALY

Jaco Pastorius

Jazz Rock/Fusion

A brief review:

I don't seem to share everyone's high praise for this album,which is unfortunate because it is a great album,but perfect by no means.When you listen to a fusion album especially one lead by probably the greatest bass player in the world,It would be difficult not to judge this solely by Jaco's bass playing alone.Which I will purposely avoid on this occasion,but that isn't the problem I have with it.

My problem,though a fairly small one can be seen from the very beginning as soon as Bireli Lagrene enters with a guitar solo,where he trades back and forth from shred guitar to funk but then shockingly and distastefully IMO comes with pinch harmonics with an over the top distorted rendition of smoke on the water which then he fumbles into Weather Report's Teen Town.This kind of surprising change in style happens throughout the album on multiple occasions.He changes from clean funk guitar into hard rock.,the most notable time is during their cover of "I shot the Sherrif" he sounds like Eddie Hazel for one momment then Eddie Van Halen the next.Which when given the funky rhythm section holding down the groove,it seems like something of a novelty.My problem isn't the fact it's bad playing,because it's not.There's some very tasteful moments in his playing and it's always at a high standard.It's the fact it sounds completely unnecessary,which I know comes down to taste alone.But this is surely very important,especially in a trio.

But once I accepted the guitar playing was not to my taste and I realised this was going to be very different to other Weather Report or Pat Metheny,I began to see the light at the end of tunnel.The moment Jaco enters in teen town his playing his exceptional and makes the album a worthy listen.In fact I'd go as far by saying he saves the album (which as the album is titled under his name,it points out the obvious) I would say this album perhaps has my favourite live performances by him.It shows all sides,possibility's and effect that the electric bass can have most when placed in the heads of a great musician.Jaco is known for going off on tangents,but as he does so,he remarkably keeps the groove and virtuoso skill,still keeping the most difficult of basslines extremely tasteful no matter how high the register.And with such a funky drummer (who still remains unknown to me) you'll realise funk is the definitive genre of this performance.And even preformed convincingly by Bireli Lagrene.

For something which could realistically be seen as a bootleg,it's a great album and I don't believe anyone would turn down the chance to keep hearing Jaco.For me this album gets a 3 due merely down to a matter of taste,as I feel everything he did solo and with Weather Report is at a better standard.I would highly recommend the trio of doom with John McLaughlin,Jaco & Tony Williams though short lived (just one album)it was everything this album should of been and more.



Teen Town performed by Weather Report